LOOK WHAT THE LORD HAS DONE!!!

Today we faxed our referral acceptance and financial agreement to Chances for Children and I am overjoyed to tell you that we have all of the money needed for our in-country fees!!! It has been so amazing to be a part of what God is doing with this. So many individuals have given so generously in answer to the voice of the Lord. We are overwhelmed by His goodness and strengthened and encouraged by the generous and sacrificial obedience of so many people. It remind me of that little Vacation Bible School song, "My God is so Big, so Strong and So Mighty. There's nothing my God can not do!"

Referral!!!!!

Yes, two of the new children are for us. Our request was for siblings 3 years or under (So Anna is still th oldest), at least one boy. Our referral: Biological siblings, little boy 2 years 9 months and baby sister 12 1/2 months. This is so perfect. They are now in the orphanage getting the nutrition they need. Ronese is almost 13 months and gained 2# her first two weeks in the orphanage. She is 12 pounds and 21 inches. Wiguerson is 33 inches tall. His birth day is July 22 and he will be 3 years old. Their biological parents are living but unable to provide food for their family. I do not think any of us can understand the reality of this living in a country like ours. We live in a town that has at least six McDonald's restaurants.

We are very excited for our family and very sobered by the reality that has caused this to take place. I have included the only pictures we have of the children and a map of their birth place. (To enlarge the pictures hold down the shift key and click.)

Fun Facts: All of our children were born at home
All of our children have brown/black eyes
Anna has 18 teeth
Beth has 12 teeth
Ronese has 6 teeth
Wiguerson has 20 teeth
Daddy has "lots'a teeth"
and so does Mommy

More Blessings

Saturday we received our first on line donation through our blog. Friends from half way around the world gave with a few mouse clicks. That is so cool. Sunday we were given an encouraging card and a check from friends at church. Then, just minutes ago we got an email notifying us of an other gift from our blog's donation button, again from a friend on the other side of the world. We know this is truly God's plan and His provision. We are so amazed! If you are keeping track, that is $230 toward our in-country fees.

Also, stay tuned for the news we have all been waiting for...

Update!

On Saturday night we found out that there are 5 new kids at the orphanage. We do not know anything about them or if any of them are "our kids". There are 13 families waiting for referrals and we are one of them. They said it will take a week or so to get the medical exams and history complete for the kids and then they will start making referrals. There are 6 kids at the orphanage waiting for the US embassy to give them their papers so they can come home, and the papers in the other offices are moving again. This is all good news for waiting parents as the waits have been long and the offices were closed for a couple of weeks.

On Tuesday night we found out that Chances for Children had received $8000 toward our in country fees and on Wednesday morning we found out that a check for $2000 is being mailed to Chances today. If you are keeping track, that is $10,000. That means we need only $3000 to cover our in-country fees due at referral. Praise the Lord! We will keep you posted.

Good Mail

Anna and I have a silly tradition, each day we make an enthusiastic trip to the mail box. Now that we live in a house with the mail box attached next to the front door, the ritual is a little sillier than it once was when we had to cross a very busy street and hike our steep driveway in order to retrieve whatever treasure might await. Still, each day I call to Anna and ask if she wants to get the mail. She still comes running, hollering questions of what the mailman might have brought to us. We open the door, reach in, and open the "good stuff" first. The green envelopes from Claudia are her favorite. My favorite are anything with our names and a stamp. Stamped mail is always best. Beth loves anything Anna gives her with the excited "oooh, Bethy! Look, it is for you!" (usually an add for internet or Direct TV)

This week the "good mail" included a letter from Shaohannah's Hope notifying us that we would receive a grant of $3000 toward our adoption expense! Praise the Lord! For those of you keeping the running total we now only need $13000 for our in-country fees. I know that sounds like a lot, but if you ever watch "Antique Road Show" you will see that it is only one special vase or paining away. Of course we have not found that vase yet, but who knows, our church youth group is having a yard sale in a few weeks... :) We are not worried, we know that God knows and every gift and grant are His to give.

Hope you get some "good mail" today!

April News Letter

This is the latest news from Chances for Children, our agency in Haiti.

A Few Home Comings

Great news for 2 families! The family that was stranded in Haiti is on the way to the airport now with their 14 month old baby who shares Beth's birth date (arrived home safely Saturday, 4/19). The other family is from Billings. They arrived from Uganda on a flight at 10:30 p.m. with their 2 babies. Anna and I were there to hug them and witness the miracle! This is the most amazing story of God's love and a family's perseverance. If you want to be inspired check out their blog.

Let's Pray Together

Many of the families adopting from our orphanage have decided to pray for Haiti each day at noon EST (that is 10:00 a.m. MT time) and each night at sunset wherever we are. It is nice to know that we can stand together in prayer with people we do not know, but do know a little of their hearts. If you would like to pray with us, join right in wherever you are!

Rioting and unrest in Haiti

The news is rioting and violence is causing trouble in Haiti: click here

In a country where many are eating dirt cookies to fill their starving stomaches, this rise in food prices seems hopeless.

Here is part of an email that gives us reason to be even more prayerful in this time!

"I am sure you are all worried about the news we are hearing concerning riots in Haiti. The reason the Haitians are so upset is that food prices have gone up an incredible amount recently. Gasoline prices have forced import charges to be huge and the costs have naturally been passed onto Haitians who are already nearly penniless. We understand that the government is trying to force a 15% price reduction on food to calm everyone down.

We have currently a family who is stranded in Haiti. They went for their coming-home trip, and when they were at the embassy they were told to leave. I will be calling senators and making a big stink because my understanding is that tomorrow is the first closure day of the consulate, and the family does not have the visa yet. As we all know, this type of occurrence is rare, but CAN happen in a country that has volatile ups and downs. The family is in a safe bed and breakfast type place and their new little son is doing well.

Please pray that we can force the U.S. State Dept. to take some action. If the family can just get the visa printed, then they can come home with their baby. They were due home this last Friday and are very anxious to be in their own country.

All the children in the orphanages are safe and there is adequate food and water for them all. With these rising prices, donations will be more and more appreciated."

Keep praying for Haiti and the families and we will update this blog as soon as we know more.